
In Africa, the colonial empire included the territories of present-day Eritrea, Somalia, Libya
Libya
Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad to the south, Niger to the southwest, Algeria to the west, and Tunisia to the northwest. The sovereign state is …
Saar Protectorate
The Saar Protectorate was a short-lived protectorate partitioned from Germany after its defeat in World War II; it was administered by the French Fourth Republic. On rejoining West Germany in 1957, it became the smallest "area state", the Saarland, not counting the "city states…
Full Answer
What countries were part of the Italian Empire?
Italian Empire. The Italian Empire (Italian: Impero Italiano) comprised the colonies, protectorates, concessions, dependencies and trust territories of the Kingdom of Italy and, after 1946, the Italian Republic.
What countries did Germany take over from Italy in WW2?
In Albania, Yugoslavia, the Dodecanese, and other territories still held by the Italians, German military forces successfully attacked their former Italian allies and ended Italy's rule. During the Dodecanese Campaign, an Allied attempt to take the Dodecanese with the cooperation of the Italian troops ended in total German victory.
What was life like in Italy in the 1930’s?
Life in Italy in the 1930’s caused difficulty to some Italians during that time period. During the 1930’s a large number of Italians who had opposed the fascist rule of Benito Mussolini arrived in the United States. After the news spread in Italy about the bombing of Pearl Harbour almost all Italians supported the war against Benito Mussolini.
When did the Italian Empire start and end?
The Italian colonial empire (Italian: Impero coloniale italiano), known as the Italian Empire (Impero italiano) between 1936 and 1943, began in Africa in the 19th century. By 1936 it comprised the colonies, protectorates, concessions and dependencies of the Kingdom of Italy.

What country did Italy take over in the 1930s?
A border incident between Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland that December gave Benito Mussolini an excuse to intervene. Rejecting all arbitration offers, the Italians invaded Ethiopia on October 3, 1935.
What did Italy conquer in the 1930s?
Italy Invades Ethiopia In 1935 Italy under the rule of Benito Mussolini invaded Ethiopia. Over the course of the conflict which lasted from 1935-1936 the Italian army overran its poorly armed and badly trained Ethiopian opponents, eventually conquering the country and turning it into an Italian colony.
What countries did Italy take over?
Former colonies, protectorates and occupied areasItalian Eritrea (1882–1947)Italian Somalia (1889–1947) ... Libya (1911–1947) ... Italian East Africa (1936–1941)Italian Ethiopia (1936-1941)Italian concessions in China. ... Italian Albania (1917-1920, 1939-1943)Italian Islands of the Aegean (1912–1947)More items...
What country did Italy take over 1939?
AlbaniaItalian invasion of AlbaniaDateApril 7–12, 1939LocationAlbanian KingdomResultItalian victory, King Zog leaves AlbaniaTerritorial changesAlbania becomes an Italian protectorate
What country did Italy invade 1935?
EthiopiaEthiopia, one of the only two independent African nations at the time, was invaded on Oct. 3, 1935 by Fascist Italy under Benito Mussolini.
What countries did Italy and Germany invade during the 1930s?
Fascist Italy invaded Ethiopia on October 3, 1935. Imperial Japan, which had occupied Manchuria (Northeast China) since 1931, engaged Chinese troops near Beijing on July 7, 1937, thus launching full-scale warfare there. Nazi Germany occupied the Rhineland in 1936 and annexed Austria and the Sudetenland two years later.
How many countries did Mussolini take over?
Italian artillery in Tembien, Ethiopia, in 1936. From the moment it was unified in the mid-19th century, Italy began to harbor dreams of empire. Under the fascist dictator Mussolini, these dreams were backed by an ideology of racism and national power.
Why did Italy switch sides in ww2?
Military disaster. Only in June 1940, when France was about to fall and World War II seemed virtually over, did Italy join the war on Germany's side, still hoping for territorial spoils. Mussolini announced his decision—one bitterly opposed by his foreign minister, Galeazzo Ciano—to huge crowds across Italy on June 10.
Why did Italy Imperialize Africa?
Works Cited. At this time Italy wanted to gain power just like all the surrounding European countries. Italy wanted any territory they could get their hands on so they could create small or large colonies. Italy thought the more colonies you had the better the economy was and the strength of your government.
When did Italy switch sides in ww2?
October 13, 1943On October 13, 1943, the government of Italy declares war on its former Axis partner Germany and joins the battle on the side of the Allies.
Who did Italy invade in ww2?
In 1935, the League of Nations was faced with another crucial test. Benito Mussolini, the Fascist leader of Italy, had adopted Adolf Hitler's plans to expand German territories by acquiring all territories it considered German.
When did Italy invade Greece?
October 28, 1940 – April 23, 1941Greco-Italian War / Period
What did Italy do in the Great Depression?
The worldwide depression of the early 1930s hit Italy very hard starting in 1931. As industries came close to failure they were bought out by the banks in a largely illusionary bail-out—the assets used to fund the purchases were largely worthless.
What are 5 major events that happened in Italy?
Key Events in Italian HistoryEtruscan Civilization at its Height 7–6th Centuries BCE. ... Rome Expels its Last King c. ... Wars for the Domination of Italy 509–265 BCE. ... Rome Creates an Empire 3rd–2nd Century BCE. ... The Social War 91–88 BCE. ... The Second Civil War and the rise of Julius Caesar 49–45 BCE.More items...•
Who did Italy invade in ww2?
In 1935, the League of Nations was faced with another crucial test. Benito Mussolini, the Fascist leader of Italy, had adopted Adolf Hitler's plans to expand German territories by acquiring all territories it considered German.
Did Italy win any battles in ww2?
Italian forces had also achieved victories against insurgents in Yugoslavia and in Montenegro, and Italo-German forces had occupied parts of British-held Egypt on their push to El-Alamein after their victory at Gazala.
How many Italians surrendered in the 10th army?
The 10 th Army was cut off and 130,000 Italians surrendered. The rest were driven out of Egypt by Operation Crusader. The arrival of the German Afrika Korps under Rommel gave the Axis the edge again, and Italian troops participated in a second invasion of Egypt. But they, along with the Germans, were driven out once more.
Why did Italy withdraw from Corfu?
Italy withdrew from Corfu, having proved the weakness of the League of Nations and gained status and wealth. Italian soldiers recruited in 1935 in Montevarchi to fight the Second Italo-Abyssinian War.
Why did Mussolini invade Corfu?
Using this to depict Italy as the injured party, Mussolini bombarded and invaded Corfu in an attempt to strengthen his strategic position in the region.
What country did Hitler invade?
Hitler’s occupation of Austria and western Czechoslovakia made Mussolini realise that he was being left behind by his German ally. In April 1939, he invaded Albania, occupying the country in only a week. A puppet government was installed.
What happened on September 13th 1940?
On the 13 th of September, 1940, Italian forces crossed the border from Libya into Egypt. This was a chance to gain control of the strategically vital Suez Canal, secure the eastern end of the Mediterranean, and gain access to the oil beyond.
What was France divided into?
France was divided between a German occupied zone and the theoretically free Vichy, with only a small part going to appease Italy. This area became a haven for French Jews, as Italian officers refused to hand them over to German authorities to be sent to the concentration camps. Italian pilots in Egypt, 1940.
What happened in 1935?
In 1935, a border clash there provided an excuse to build up troops on the Ethiopian border and then launch an invasion. Once again, the League of Nations proved unable to resolve the situation politically or curb Italian aggression.
How many Italians were in Libya in 1940?
More settlers followed in 1939, and by 1940 there were approximately 110,000 Italians in Libya, constituting about 12 percent of the total population. Plans envisioned an Italian colony of 500,000 settlers by the 1960s.
When did Italy become part of Libya?
In 1934, the two colonies were merged into one colony which was named the colony of Italian Libya. In 1937, this colony was divided into four provinces, and in 1939, the coastal provinces became a part of metropolitan Italy. The colonization lasted until Libya's occupation by Allied forces in 1943, but it was not until the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty ...
What was the name of the two Libyan provinces that the British and French ruled?
The British military administered the two former Italian Libyan provinces of Tripolitana and Cyrenaïca, while the French administered the province of Fezzan.
What was Mussolini's highway used for?
On 13 September 1940, Mussolini's highway was used for the invasion of Egypt by Italian forces stationed in Libya. Italian settlers and indigenous Libyans in Tripoli, 1930s.
What was the name of the unified colony in 1937?
The classical name "Libya" was revived as the official name of the unified colony. Then in 1937 the colony was split administratively into four provinces: Tripoli, Misrata, Benghazi, and Derna. The Fezzan area was called Territorio Sahara Libico and administered militarily.
Why is the Italian embassy in Tripoli important?
The Italian embassy in Tripoli is one of the few Western embassies still active in Libya during the Post-civil war violence in Libya, because Italy is the most important trade partner for Libya.
What was the name of the war that took place between Italy and Libya?
This conflict, known as the Second Italo-Senussi War, ultimately claimed the lives of around 56,000 Libyans.
What was life like in Italy in the 1930s?
Life in Italy in the 1930’s caused difficulty to some Italians during that time period. During the 1930’s a large number of Italians who had opposed the fascist rule of Benito Mussolini arrived in the United States. After the news spread in Italy about the bombing of Pearl Harbour almost all Italians supported the war against Benito Mussolini. At this point, Italy was slowly becoming under the Nazi rule, the significance of a woman’s role in Italy was emphasised as they were expected to accept the fascist ideology. Girls were expected to get married and conceive lots of children. Many young women in Italy felt the pressures of politics that were dominated by men and felt that women’s rights were disappearing…show more content…
What were the problems in Germany and Italy during the 1920s?
The problems in Germany Japan and Italy during the 1920s led many different groups to try to gain political power. At times there were riots in the streets among the supporters of different political parties.Both Adolf Hitler in Germany and Benito Mussolini in Italy believed in the political system called fascism.
Why was Neorealism not developed in Italy?
Before Fascist Italy and World War II, the concept of Neorealism was not yet developed, because Italy had never suffered a huge change to its normalcy status, until Benito Mussolini rose to power and adjusted Italy to his convenience. Henceforth, in the nineteenth century, Italy´s cinema main subject of matter was realism due to the fact that this movement of film and literature did not approve one´s own expressions or did not appreciate the beauty of the art. At the same time, the French developed
How did the fascists control Italy?
Fascists’ social and economic policies up to 1939 significantly aided their control over Italy yet may not be cited as the sole cause. The Fascist party’s social and economic policies along with other factors attributed to the overall control of Italy. Through such policies it was a certainty that the Fascist party would hold complete power over the population of Italy in each aspect of an individual’s life whether it was their leisure time through the Dopolavoro or at work under the corporate state
Why was the role of women important in Italy?
At this point, Italy was slowly becoming under the Nazi rule, the significance of a woman’s role in Italy was emphasised as they were expected to accept the fascist ideology. Girls were expected to get married and conceive lots of children.
Why was fashion important in the 1930s?
During the 1930’s the public began to feel the effects of the Great Depression, many designers were restricted in experimenting with new fashions due to the fall in the economy and the rise in employment. However, this difficult time period did not stop women from flocking to the shops to enjoy the new fashion craze that was arising. Women were expected to wear clothing that was sombre and modest, it reflecting the difficult social and economical situation of the decade. In Italy, women’s fashions moved away from the seductive and daring style of the 1920s towards more romantic, feminine silhouette inspired fashion. Fashion was more significant during this time period in Italy because
What was totalitarianism in the United States?
Totalitarianism In The United States. all aspects of Italian life, even education. It was required “that all schools, newspapers, etc. had to not write, for example, ‘the 13th of June 1933’ but instead had to write ‘the 13th of June of the 11th year of Mussolini's power’” (“Benito Mussolini”).
Which countries were occupied by the Nazis?
Though mainland Britain stood free of invasion, the Channel Islands, being closer to France than England , were occupied by the Nazis. Britain was another of the powers Hitler wanted revenge on and joined France in declaring war after the invasion of Poland.
When did France and Germany become united?
Hostility between France and Germany went back over a century, to the time of Napoleon. It was through a war with France in 1870-1 that Germany was united, and France was among the Allied powers that had beaten Germany in the First World War.
Why did Hitler invade Belgium?
So Hitler invaded Belgium in order to outflank the French defences and allow a swift invasion of France.
What was the name of the move that Hitler took over Austria?
To Hitler, taking over Austria – a move known as Anschluss – was simply the expansion of Germany to its natural borders. Cheering crowds greet the Nazis in Vienna. By Bundesarchiv – CC BY-SA 3.0 de. 3.
What border region did Germany and France have?
German soldiers are welcomed into Eupen-Malmedy, a German border region annexed by Belgium in the Treaty of Versailles (1919). By Bundesarchiv – CC BY-SA 3.0 de. Since the First World War, France had built a line of tough concrete defences along its border with Germany – the Maginot Line.
What was the first time Hitler flexed his military muscles in Europe?
Czechoslovakia. The occupation of the Sudetenland, the border regions in the north and west of Czechoslovakia, was the first time Hitler flexed his military muscles in Europe. The region was conceded to Germany by the Czech government in an attempt to avoid war after the Germans made demands for it to be handed over.
Why did Hitler want more space for Germany?
‘Lebensraum ’, meaning ‘living space’, was his idea that the German people had a right to a greater territory to support them and ensure their growth. This was to come at the expense of other people, who he saw as inferior.
Who took over Albania in 1939?
To compensate for this, Mussolini took over Albania on Good Friday 1939. To him, this was a sign of Italy’s expanding power in Europe. King Victor Emmanuel was offered the title of King of Albania. Italian propaganda made a great deal out of this but in reality Albania had been under the influence of Italy for years and this was barely an Italian military success.
Which country did Mussolini expect to have the Adriatic Sea as a sphere of influence?
Mussolini made it clear to Hitler that he expected Italy to have the Adriatic Sea as a sphere of influence.
What did Mussolini think of Hitler's non-aggression?
Mussolini also considered that Hitler’s Non-Aggression Pact with Communist Russia meant that somehow that involved Italy and he saw it as a three-nation treaty though Italy never signed it (nor was Italy even told that it was going to take place). On September 1st, 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland.
What was Mussolini's only allies?
After the rebuff Italy experienced after her invasion of Abyssinia, the only choice of allies left for Mussolini was Germany and Franco’s Spain. In July 1936, a civil war broke out in Spain between the Republicans and the Nationalists lead by the army General Franco. The Republicans got support from various groups throughout Europe.
Why did Mussolini leave the League of Nations?
As Germany had left the League of Nations in 1933, so Mussolini left the League in 1937 after the League had imposed economic sanctions on Italy for the invasion of Abyssinia. In 1938, Germany occupied Austria in the Anschluss (forbidden by Versailles ).
What was Mussolini's role in the Munich agreement?
The major powers took the opportunity to meet in Munich – an idea suggested by Mussolini. The outcome was the “Piece of Paper” which at the time seemed to everyone to guarantee European peace. Mussolini got the credit for this. After Munich, Mussolini’s reputation was at its peak. To many he seemed to be Europe’s saviour – a reputation that he assumed made him Europe’s premier statesman.
What was Mussolini's closest rival?
To Mussolini, it was only a matter of time before Britain surrendered and he saw Europe as rich for easy pickings. His nearest rival geographically, France, was on the verge of surrendering. On June 17th, the date France sought surrender terms from Germany, Mussolini ordered an Italian invasion of southern France.

Greece
Ethiopia
Albania
France
Egypt
Greece Again
Yugoslavia
Tunisia
British Somaliland, Kenya, and Sudan
- Fascist Italy’s most successful invasion was launched in east Africa in August 1940. Advancing in several columns, the Italians drove back British forces from British Somaliland as well as adjacent parts of Kenya and Sudan. The British commander lost his nerve and withdrew, with relatively few casualties suffered on either side. It was the most pea...